If you lack precision printing capabilities in your truss plant, then you need to see what you’re missing! The Vekta P3 is a custom-built print system that can take your business to the next level.
The Vekta P3 Printer works seamlessly with the Vekta V5 and S5 Razer Linear Saws. The Vekta Razer is a high accuracy linear saw with an incredibly small footprint, making it ideal for increasing cutting capacity without sacrificing valuable floor space. The V5 is our full-featured version of the Razer, capable of performing virtually any cut as well as routing and drilling operations. The S5 was specifically designed with the truss fabricator in mind – we eliminated some of the “extra” features of the V5 to offer a more budget-friendly option. These saws, combined with a vast array of Vekta Automation’s material handling options, can make a profound impact in any truss plant. Now, combined with the Vekta P3 printer, the Razer is seriously turning heads!
Vekta Automation’s P3 Printer was custom designed from the ground up for our industry. It has the capability of printing ANY image onto the lumber in a sharp, clear manner with ultra-high positional accuracy. While originally designed for the fabrication of wall panels (stud locations/lengths, opening sizes, panel junction marks, etc.), we’ve recently adapted the technology to print an ever-increasing array of information onto truss components also. Our aim is to print enough information directly onto the lumber to eliminate the need for additional paperwork, laser projectors, or large screen TVs.
Vekta is now a licensed OEM partner with Hewlett-Packard. This has allowed us to design and manufacture the P3 with the ability to keep up with top-of-the-line linear saws. The P3 Printer opens up a whole new world of possibilities for Vekta customers. It was designed in such a way as to let the range of printable information easily expand over time as our customers ask for more details. Every year, Vekta adds more options as to what can be printed in real time and with millimeter accuracy on the lumber – which is one of the main reasons why our competitors haven’t been able to catch up.
The printer incorporates 16 individual, disposable print heads and prints on two faces of the lumber. It automatically adjusts for different thickness material and self-checks to ensure the printer is in the correct position to avoid a crash. As with all of the options for Vekta saws, existing Razer systems can be easily upgraded to include a P3 Printer.
P3 Printing Capability Overview
Five key areas where our P3 excels include the following:
- Truss Plate Placement Guide: The outline of the plates can be printed directly onto the components, so you need less reliance on the abilities and experience of the builders. We are also developing several other schemes to cater to the needs of different plants. For example, you can print the full outline of the plate, a scaled down version of the plate, key apex locations only, or some other scheme. In the image shown, you will notice that for some plates (such as the middle plate on the bottom chord) some of the lines are omitted [for image, See PDF or View in Full Issue]. This is to allow the plate location to be shifted slightly to suit the inevitable variability of trusses.
- Member Designation: The member designations are the unique identifying marks printed on each component. Traditionally this information is generally fixed – all components are printed with the same information. Our print system allows these marks to be fully customized to your needs. What is more, they can be customized for that particular member type also. For example, you may want job-truss-member printed on certain members but only the length printed on other members – such as studs and other similar components. Similarly, it may be desired to print company information on certain components. Anything is possible! These member designation marks can be printed on the top face, side face, or both the top and side faces of the components.
- Orientation Mark: One of the cleverest aspects of the printer is its ability to print an orientation mark onto each component. This orientation mark is a picture of the finished truss and has the appropriate member highlighted within the truss diagram. What is more, the truss diagram is always orientated on the member to be perfectly upright in the finished truss. This orientation mark therefore allows the truss assemblers to very easily and intuitively identify where within the truss a particular component should be positioned and also the correct orientation of that component.
- Junction Mark: Junction marks allow the truss assembler to easily identify what truss member intersects with the given member – again, allowing for faster, easier layout of the truss without paperwork.
- Print Information: You decide what you want printed: stud location and type, wall junctions, wall openings, even your company name and logo! With speeds up to 1400 mm/s, the printer will not slow down your saw in the slightest! Print across the full width of 140 mm wide top and bottom chords. Print on the side of either single or stacked components. With a resolution of up to 600 dpi, even the ink we use is far less expensive than any other print system on the market.
Staying on the Cutting Edge
At Vekta, our objective is to build cutting-edge equipment specifically for the truss and frame industry. We assess your processes and challenges from your point of view, so that we can develop systems that will deliver unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. The Vekta P3 printer is just one more example of how we are raising the bar and continuing to bring new ideas to the table.